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Results tagged ‘ DJ LeMahieu ’

Left-handed pitcher John Gaub, infielder DJ LeMahieu and outfielder Lou Montanez were called up from Triple-A Iowa and added to the Cubs’ roster on Tuesday.

Gaub was acquired from the Indians in the Mark DeRosa deal on Dec. 31, 2008, and his first appearance will mark his Major League debut. LeMahieu, a second-round pick in 2009, and Montanez, who was the Cubs’ first-round selection in 2000, were both called up during the season. LeMahieu batted .243 in 23 games while Montanez hit .239 in 25 games from May 24-July 2.

At Iowa, Gaub, 26, posted a 3.42 ERA in 50 games, and was 7-for-11 in save opportunities. He struck out 75 over 55 1/3 innings, an average of 12.2 strikeouts per nine innings, and limited opponents to a .209 batting average. In five Minor League seasons, Gaub is 12-12 with 17 saves and a 3.60 ERA.

LeMahieu, 23, a right-handed batter, began the 2011 season with Double-A Tennessee and hit .358 with 15 doubles, two triples, two home runs, 32 runs scored and 27 RBIs in 50 games. He was promoted to Chicago on May 30, then optioned to Triple-A Iowa on June 28 and hit .286 with seven doubles, three home runs and 23 RBIs in 58 games. Combined, LeMahieu batted .319 in the Minors this season with 22 doubles, three triples, five home runs and 50 RBIs in 108 games.

Montanez, 29, batted .321 in 92 games with Iowa, hitting 22 doubles, seven triples and seven homers while driving in 69 runs. He hit .400 against lefties, .285 against right-handers.

Montañez spent seven seasons in the Cubs’ Minor League system before joining the Orioles before the 2007 season. He made his big league debut with Baltimore in 2008 and spent part of three seasons in the big leagues with the Orioles (2008-10) before signing with the Cubs as a Minor League free agent with an invite to Spring Training in January.

The Cubs are expected to add more players from Triple-A Iowa now that the team’s season ended on Monday. According to the Des Moines Register, pitcher John Gaub, infielder DJ LeMahieu and outfielder Lou Montanez will be added to the big league roster. Gaub was acquired from the Indians in the Mark DeRosa deal on Dec. 31, 2008, and has never pitched in the big leagues. LeMahieu, a second-round pick in 2009, and Montanez, who was the Cubs’ first-round selection in 2000, were both called up during the season. LeMahieu batted .243 in 23 games while Montanez hit .239 in 25 games. Expect official word on Tuesday.

Andrew Cashner, Brett Jackson and Chris Carpenter are among the Cubs prospects who will play in the Arizona Fall League, which begins Oct. 4. The trio will be joined on the Mesa Solar Sox by Trey McNutt, Junior Lake and DJ LeMahieu. Left-hander Jeff Beliveau is on the taxi squad as well. The AFL begins its 20th season this October. The six-team league plays six days per week (Monday-Saturday) in six Cactus League stadiums in the Phoenix area. Salt River Fields at Talking Stick has been added as the new home of the Rafters, joining Mesa Hohokam Stadium (Solar Sox), Peoria Sports Complex (Javelinas), Phoenix Municipal Stadium (Desert Dogs), Scottsdale Stadium (Scorpions) and Surprise Stadium (Saguaros) as the league venues.

Infielder DJ LeMahieu joined the Cubs from Double-A Tennessee on Monday, taking Jeff Baker’s spot on the roster. Baker was placed on the 15-day DL, retro to Saturday, because of a strained groin.

“The first thing we have to do is figure out how to spell his name,” Mike Quade said.

Quade said they couldn’t play short-handed without Baker and Reed Johnson, who was placed on the DL Sunday.

“I wanted to see ‘Bake’ hit the other day and I didn’t think he looked as comfortable as he needed to be,” Quade said. “He’d still suck it up for us and still pinch-hit but that leaves us in a pretty tough situation defensively.”

LeMahieu may be asked to fill in at first base if the Cubs need to give Carlos Pena a day off. That was Baker’s job. The other option is Blake DeWitt.

LeMahieu had been told Sunday he was going to be promoted to Triple-A Iowa, and then went fishing with friends. He got a phone call from player development director Oneri Fleita that there had been a change in plans and he was going to Chicago.

His father was in Milwaukee and drove down and his mother flew across the country from California to be at Wrigley on Monday.

“I dreamed about this as a kid, like everyone says,” LeMahieu said. “When you’re playing in Double-A, youknow a call might be coming but I don’t think you can ever prepare yourself for the actual call.”

* Matt Garza, on the DL with a right elbow contusion, threw on flat ground Monday and was expected to throw a side on Wednesday. Could he still be ready in St. Louis? “Not out of the question,” Quade said. “I’d like him back as quick as I can get him back.”

* Geovany Soto said he was able to test his leg in his two Minor League games. He was activated from the DL Sunday after being sidelined with a strained left groin.

“I ran for a little bit and whenever I hit the ball,” Soto said Monday. “It felt good. In my head, I was a little concerned. I didn’t want to [re-injur] it or feel it at all and I never did.”

* Players were wearing special Memorial Day caps.

* It was suddenly summer at Wrigley Field on Monday.

“I just like it hot and comfortable,” Quade said. “The hotter the better for me. I believe when the weather warms up, our offense will be better. It’s just a more comfortable situation. It’s good to see the sun.”

Add another Cubs player to the DL list. Jeff Baker was to be placed on the disabled list Monday because of a strained groin and infielder DJ LeMahieu to be called up from Double-A Tennessee. LeMahieu was the Cubs’ second-round pick in 2009. He was batting .358 with 15 doubles, two triples, two homers and 27 RBIs with the Smokies. Baker pinch-hit on Saturday but it was obvious he still had trouble running. He was batting .368 overall, .512 against left-handers.

Baker joins Reed Johnson (back), Marlon Byrd (face), Andrew Cashner (shoulder), and Matt Garza (elbow) on the DL. The Cubs did get Randy Wells back on Saturday and Geovany Soto on Sunday.

More info on DJ: He played second and third with the Smokies, and was hitting .459 against left-handers, .310 vs. right-handers. He’s been red-hot this month, batting .419 in 27 games. He hit second and third in the lineup. What should help the Cubs is he was batting .357 with runners in scoring position.

Another Camp Colvin alum had a big day Sunday. DJ LeMahieu, the Cubs’ second-round pick in 2009, belted a two-run walkoff homer in the 10th to lift the team to a 5-3 victory over the Dodgers.

“I was taking [batting practice] today and one of the coaches said, ‘Last year, warning track; this year, maybe you’ll hit the fence,'” LeMahieu said of his conversation with Juan Cabrera. “I was like, ‘I’m going over the fence this year.’ It’s crazy — first at-bat to do that.”

The 22-year-old infielder said it was his first walkoff homer since Little League. He did have a clutch walkoff hit for LSU in the College World Series.

“A homer is way better,” he said.

LeMahieu added 18 pounds this offseason by working out in Mesa at what’s been dubbed “Camp Colvin” in honor of Tyler Colvin. After the 2009 season, Colvin worked out in Mesa and gained 25 pounds, had a great spring in 2010 and won a spot on the Opening Day roster. Cubs strength coach Tim Buss deserves the credit. He designs the program for the players. Obviously, Buss is having a good streak. LeMahieu begins this year with two home runs in 176 Minor League games.

Sunday’s contest was broadcast on WGN TV, and LeMahieu said he had family back home watching.

“I was trying to think up the middle and move the runner over,” he said, “and I guess all the adrenaline [got me] and I got the barrel out there really quickly. I don’t hit too many homers — to see me hit a homer, it’s like, what the heck is that?”

The Cubs announced the players, coaches and front office personnel who will take part in next week’s Cubs Caravan. There will be two tour groups. On Wednesday, group No. 1 will include Randy Wells, Justin Berg, James Russell, Bob Dernier, DJ LeMahieu, Chris Carpenter, Oneri Fleita, Ivan DeJesus and Dave Keller. Bob Brenly and Dave Otto will take part in the morning sessions, and Len Kasper will join the tour in the afternoon.

Tour No. 2 Wednesday will include Mike Quade, Sean Marshall, Andrew Cashner, Koyie Hill, Jay Jackson, Lester Strode, Randy Bush and Mark Riggins. Kasper will take part in the morning session and Otto will cover in the afternoon.

Camp Colvin is up and running in Mesa, Ariz. The offseason workout camp, named after Tyler Colvin because of the success he had last winter, has about a dozen players participating. Colvin gained 25 pounds last year, improved his flexibility and running speed and got stronger.

“He’s proud of it and he’s embraced it,” Cubs player development director Oneri Fleita said Thursday.

“It’s a nice chance for some of these guys to spend time together outside of the season in a different format,” Fleita said. “It helps them bond and reach the ultimate goal.”

Right now, the goal is to improve their strength and conditioning. After Jan. 1, they’ll start adding baseball activities.

“I think at the end of the day there will be a bond — you sweat together, you work together,” Fleita said. “Hopefully, down the road, it pays dividends.”

* Fleita said shortstop Hak-Ju Lee is working out with a personal trainer in Korea and has added 10 pounds. The Cubs he’ll report at least 15 pounds heavier this spring.

“It will be fun to see that kind of weight on that kind of body,” Fleita said of the slender infielder.

* First-round Draft pick Hayden Simpson was to report Sunday to Mesa to join the workouts. Simpson was unable to do anything after he was drafted in June because the pitcher came down with mononucleosis.

* Third baseman Marquez Smith has returned home after playing Winter Ball in Venezuela. The Cubs were worried Smith would be taken in the Rule 5 Draft on Thursday. He batted .247 in 30 games for Aragua.

“He had a nice first half, nice experience first time out of the country,” Fleita said. “I’m always anxious to see how that works out. Normally, you gain a greater appreciation for life at the very least, and you understand what some of your teammates had to go through to get to the big leagues.”

* Starlin Castro went 3-for-4 with a triple and an RBI for Escogido on Wednesday. He’s now batting .200 in eight games. Fleita said he hopes Castro can help Escogido get to the playoffs. Former Cubs outfielder Moises Alou is the team’s GM and his team won the Caribbean World Series last year.

* The Cubs are expected to announce their Minor League staff assignments
next week. Big leaguer Mariano Duncan was to be named Double-A hitting
coach.

The Cubs’ Minor League affiliates combined to post a 374-316 record this season. The .542 winning percentage ranked second among Major League teams behind the Cardinals (.569). It’s the first time the Cubs’ affiliates have totaled 374 wins since winning 379 in 1995.

* Triple-A Iowa finished 82-62 and tied for first place in the PCL Northern Division. The I-Cubs were 39-33 at home and 43-29 on the road. Darwin Barney and Brad Snyder were named to the 2010 All PCL team and Iowa manager Ryne Sandberg was named PCL manager of the year.

* Double-A Tennessee went 42-27 in the first half and 44-26 in the second half to finish 86-53, the best record in franchise history. The Smokies lost in four games to Jacksonville in the Southern League championship series. Robinson Chirinos, Tony Campana and Brandon Guyer were named to the postseason SL all-star team. Smokies manager Bill Dancy was named SL manager of the year.

* Class A Daytona finished 75-64 overall, including a 41-28 record in the second half. The Cubs led the Florida State League in hits (1,236) and innings pitched (1,234 2/3). Michael Brenly, Rebel Ridling and DJ LeMahieu were named to the FSL postseason all-star team.

* Class A Peoria finished 71-66, beginning the year with a team record 11 straight wins. Justin Bour’s 87 RBIs ranked second in the league.

* Class A Boise finished 34-42. Alvaro Ramirez and Pierre LePage were named to the Northwest League all-star team. LePage was a unanimous selection.

* Mesa went 26-29, and became the first team in the rookie league to shutout an opponent when they did so June 24 vs. the Angels.

Pitchers Chris Carpenter and Luke Sommer, catcher Robinson Chirinos, and infielder DJ Le Mahieu were added to the Double-A Tennessee roster Thursday in time for the start of the playoff opener against West Tenn.

LeMahieu has spent the entire season at Class A Daytona, batting .314 with two home runs and 73 RBIs. Carpenter and Chirinos played for both Tennessee and Triple-A Iowa this year. Sommer began the year in Daytona, then moved up to Tennessee and before being bumped up again to Iowa.

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